ASUS RT-AX57 (AX3000) Scalable Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router, Subscription-Free Internet Security, Real-time Protection, Advanced Parental Controls, Built-in VPN, AiMesh Compatible, Gaming & Streaming, Smart Home
ASUS RT-AX57 is a dual-band wireless router with a bandwidth of 160MHz. With up to 4 times the network capacity, it can handle more streaming, gaming, and smart home devices simultaneously. More efficient transmission scheduling can also increase the battery life of IoT devices and reduce network congestion.
- Next Generation WiFi Standard - Supports the 802.11ax WiFi standard to increase efficiency and productivity.
- Ultra-Fast WiFi Speed - RT-AX57 supports 1024-QAM for faster wireless connections. The total network speed is around 3000Mbps - 574Mbps in the 2.4GHz band and 2402Mbps in the 5GHz band.
- Increased capacity and efficiency Not only supports MU-MIMO technology, but also OFDMA technology to efficiently allocate channels and communicate with multiple devices at the same time.
- Professional security anytime, anywhere - Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic technology powered by Trend Micro. When you're on the go, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a secure VPN with just one click.
- Easily expand your network Enjoy seamless roaming with rich and advanced features by adding any AiMesh compatible router.
Overview: Good router, great admin interface (you can use a web interface or mobile app), long range, good price, solid warranty, great reputation for hardware updates. The setting is more complicated, pay attention to the MAC setting when installing. The range is not as good as the Netgear Nighthawk (R7000 / AC1900). If your home isn't very big, this router offers decent home coverage to consider, especially if you're looking to upgrade to WiFi 6. For larger homes, I'd recommend considering a WiFi mesh solution. .
Full review: Before the Asus RT-AX3000, I used a Netgear Nighthawk. I gave up on the Nighthawk after Netgear's latest firmware update broke it again. After the update it fixed it for FragAttack, but my router had to restart every day or two or the WiFi stopped working. Or is the purpose of the patch... disabling WiFi networks so they won't be hacked? Several firmware updates have already broken routers (most recent was December 2020, around Christmas time - update applied, router broke and I had to do a factory reset, install firmware update and then completely reconfigure my network which took about 3 hours; I have a complicated setup), I decided to try something else.
I heard about ASUS and did some research. This router met many of my needs: WiFi 6 (so my new device could benefit from the increased speed), good coverage, reasonable price, and good reviews. I also think Asus has a good reputation for reliable and frequent firmware updates. ASUS also offers a 2-year warranty on the router in the US (may vary in other parts of the world, not sure). That's double Netgear's basic warranty (and it's only one year), so I'm confident in choosing this router.
I received the router and the installation took a while. ASUS Express Install does not allow you to update the MAC address / MAC version originally registered with your ISP. So I first saw a red light to go online. After looking at the setup (which I couldn't do until the Asus setup was complete) I found the problem. Then I used the "MAC Clone" feature to update the MAC address to match what my ISP registered for my account. It still wasn't working so I had to call my ISP and they had to unblock my account because they saw the wrong MAC was trying to connect (they thought someone was hacking into my account). After 15 minutes on the phone the ASUS finally connected. Now I can test it!
I live in a large house and can get the signal anywhere except my basement (as long as you can get the signal from the router). Also, the signal at the front door was very weak. The Netgear Nighthawk was able to provide modest coverage in these areas, so I was disappointed when my 7-year-old Netgear Nighthawk R7000 offered better coverage than the brand-new ASUS RT-AX3000. To solve the coverage problem, I use a WiFi extender (D-Link Range Extender, WiFi 5, nothing special) in the hallway near the front of the house. It now covers the other side of the house, but surprisingly Asus doesn't offer at least as much coverage. I expected more from a brand new router as it's been 7 years since the last update.
Bottom line: If your home is small (up to 1,700 square feet / 2-3 bedrooms / 1-2 floors), this router may be powerful enough for you. Anything bigger, and you'll probably want to use a Wi-Fi extender to help the router deliver a Wi-Fi signal anywhere in the house. For large households, instead of trying such a router, consider a mesh system. I read the reviews and will try the grid system next time.
I love ASUS - great company, great product, great admin interface and router management website. This thing is a much better experience than Netgear (which has a lower warranty, terrible web interface, and is very slow and frustrating to use). So if this router has enough power for your home, I recommend you to give it a try.